Introduction Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an emerging global threat. It increases mortality and morbidity and strains healthcare systems. Health care professionals can counter the rising AMR by promoting antibiotic stewardship and facilitating new drug development. Even with the economic and scientific challenges, it is reassuring that new agents continue to be developed. Methods This review addresses new antibiotics in the pipeline. We conducted a review of the literature including Medline, Clinicaltrials.org, and relevant pharmaceutical companies for approved and in pipeline antibiotics in phase 3 or new drug application (NDA). Results We found a number of new antibiotics and reviewed their current development status, mode of action, spectra of activity, and indications for which they have been approved. The included studies from phase 3 clinical trials were mainly utilized for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections, community-acquired bacterial pneumonia, and pneumonia acquired in the healthcare settings. The number of these agents is limited against high priority organisms. The identified antibiotics were based mainly on previously known molecules or pre-existing antimicrobial agents. Conclusion There are a limited number of antibiotics against high priority organisms such as multi-drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. New antimicrobial agents directed against the top priority organisms as classified by the World Health Organization are urgently needed.

Acute bacterial skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) are among the most common reasons for hospitalization of adults in the USA today. Cellulitis or SSTI can cause significant morbidity and mortality. The 2014 IDSA guideline update for the management of skin and soft tissue infections classified skin infections as purulent cellulitis (causative pathogen-Staphylococcus aureus including MRSA) and nonpurulent cellulitis (causative pathogens include Streptococcus). Understanding the key difference and categorization will allow a physician to determine the appropriate treatment approach and antibiotic choice. In recent years, there have been several new antibiotics which received fast track approval by FDA as a Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) for the indication of SSTI. They Include Ceftaroline (Teflaro), Dalbavancin (Dalvance), Oritavancin (orbativ), Tedizolid (Sevixtro), Delafloxacin (Baxdela) and Omadacycline (Nuzyra). This article will briefly review each of these new antibiotics and summarize their roles in avoiding hospital admissions and reducing the duration of stay in patients with SSTI.

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